Experience Works Year in Industry

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Experience WorksYear in Industry

• Joanie Carlyle Anna Worsley
• Computing
• Faculty of Engineering

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Introduction

• Why gain work experience?
• How to find and apply for work experience
• Support available

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Why?

• Develop skills in the workplace
• Employers top 3 ways to improve skills (in
  order of effectiveness)
• Completing an internship or industrial placement
• Taking on a leadership position in a student
  society
• Gaining very people-focussed work experience
• Source 2008 Association of Graduate Recruiters
  Survey

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Student Experience

• Colin Traub
• Placement with Cerner

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• Put theory into practice
• Experience an industry and its culture
• Network
• What you can learn about yourself
• Financial Benefits

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• Graduate Recruitment
• Organisations are looking for more than a degree
• 43 of employers convert gt 40 of interns to
  graduate recruits (10 convert gt 80)
• Source 2008 Association of Graduate Recruiters
  Survey

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12 month Placement

• Highly regarded by employers
• Often the most obvious option
• Typical Salary 11 18K per annum
• Course related or Generic
• Departmental/Personal Tutor Alison Marshall
• International Placements
• Similar to 12 month option but undertaken abroad
• Additional benefits
• Erasmus Work (possible funding for European
  placements)
• Departmental Tutor/Personal Tutor

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Discovering OpportunitiesAdvertised Hidden

• Work Placement Information
• http//careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/students/work-experi
  ence/index.asp
• Work Placement Vacancies
• http//careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/students/work-experi
  ence/at-university/vacancies.asp
• Identify specific companies
• Structured Schemes
• Speculative Approaches
• Careers Centre careerweb.leeds.ac.uk
• Journals
• Network University / Personal / Alumni
  Mentoring
• http//www.graduatecareersnetwork.leeds.ac.uk/

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Examples from last years 12 month placements

• Microsoft
• Leeds Council
• IBM
• Echostar Europe

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Applying for Advertised Opportunities

• CV, Covering Letters, Applications
• Research!
• Sector
• Trends
• Organisation
• Department
• Role
• Organisational language (jargon)
• Skills / Competencies required

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Applying for Hidden Opportunities

• Research
• Sector, trends, organisations, department, role,
  organisational language (jargon), skills /
  competencies required
• Prepare your sales pitch
• Decide on a location for making the call
• Keep information close by
• Be confident 1st impressions count!
• Interview?

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Support Available

• Careers Centre
• www.careerweb.leeds.ac.uk
• www.careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/students/work-experience
  /index.asp
• Drop in appointments Monday Friday 9am - 4.00pm
• Resource Room
• Career Consultants
• Department Tutors
• Placement and Personal

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Workshops

• Aptitude Test Practice (SHL)
• Wednesday 25th November 2009, 2-4pm
• Careers Centre - Dales Suite, Chevin Room
• Or Friday 4th December, 10am 12
• Finding Applying for 12 month placements
• Wednesday 3rd February 2010, 2-3pm
• Careers Centre - Seminar Room LG02
• Book on-line www.careerweb.leeds.ac.uk
• In the Jobs and Events section (online events
  calendar)

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Alternatives to a year placementSummer
Internships

• Structured programmes (over summer)
• Shell Step - open to all penultimate year
  students
• Paid around 210 per week (Tax and NI exempt)
• www.shellstep.org.uk

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• Work Simulations / Case Studies
• Work Shadowing
• Gap year
• Volunteering http//leedsforlife.leeds.ac.uk/
• Part-time work http//www.leedsuniversityunion.org
  .uk/jobs
• (Includes Course Related Part Time Work Project)

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Summary

• Employers want you to offer more than a degree
• Whatever you do, do something!
• Even the most basic work experience can be
  utilised to your advantage
• Reflect on and learn from each experience
• Be comfortable selling the whole package

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• Joanie Carlyle - 0113 343 5314
• Rebecca Evans - 0113 343 5285
• Careers Centre
• 5-7 Cromer Terrace
• Email workexperience_at_leeds.ac.uk
• Careers Website www.careerweb.leeds.ac.uk